For those who may not know, at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors, held in Miami, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was recently elected to serve as the longstanding organization’s President. Transit Miami has obtained a copy (below) of a resolution drafted by the Transportation and Communications Committee and adopted at this very conference. It is our pleasure to share it with you.
Although it doesn’t guarantee action, it certainly represents an understanding of the inherent benefits associated with bicycling, especially in urban areas. One can hope that it also demonstrates the progress America’s cities continue to make towards livability and sustainability. If anything, to my knowledge, such an on-paper commitment to bicycling has never been so far reaching in this country. Hopefully, this is just the beginning…
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT THE
The U.S. Conference of Mayors
76th Annual Meeting
June 20-24, 2008
Miami
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
###
ENSURING BICYCLING IS INTEGRATED INTO NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION,
CLIMATE, ENERGY AND HEALTH POLICY INITIATIVES
WHEREAS, bicycling can provide multiple and cross-cutting
benefits in U.S policy initiatives that seek to address
transportation needs, limit climate change and energy
consumption and improve public health; and
WHEREAS, we now live in a nation with 300 million people, and
that number is expected to grow to 365 million by 2030 and to
420 million by 2050 with the vast majority of that growth
occurring in congested urban areas where there are significant
limitations on accommodating increased motor vehicle travel; and
WHEREAS, since 1980, the number of miles Americans drive has
grown three times faster than the U.S. population; and
WHEREAS, a national transportation system that invests in and is
conducive to bicycling reduces traffic congestion in our most
heavily congested urban areas while promoting an overall
improved quality of life that is valuable for the Nation; As
example:
• More than 200 cities throughout the U.S., representing more
than 35 million people have committed to implementing bicycle
friendly action plans to make their communities more bicycle
friendly; and
• The greatest potential for increased bicycle usage is in our
major urban areas where 40 percent of trips are two miles or
less and 28 percent are less than one mile; and
• Surveys show that a majority of people want to ride more but
are dissuaded by concern over traffic danger and other
barriers, and case studies have shown that when those barriers
to bicycling are removed, people start riding; and
WHEREAS, a national network of interconnected urban and rural
bikeways can provide valuable community benefits, including low
or no-cost recreation and alternative transportation options for
people of all ages and abilities
WHEREAS, the transportation sector contributes one-third of the
greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and passenger
automobiles and light trucks alone contribute 21 percent
WHEREAS, 10 percent of global oil production goes solely toward
fueling America’s cars and trucks and the U.S. could save 462
millions of gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling
from one percent to one and a half percent of all trips; and
WHEREAS, bicycle commuters annually save on average $1,825 in
auto-related costs, reduce their carbon emissions by 128 pounds,
conserve 145 gallons of gasoline, and avoid 50 hours of gridlock
traffic; and
WHEREAS, over 800 of our Nation’s Mayors have signed onto the
Climate Protection Agreement of the United States Conference of
Mayors urging the Federal Government to enact policies and
programs to meet or exceed a greenhouse gas emission reduction
target of a seven percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012;
and
WHEREAS, two years ago the Conference of Mayors unanimously
endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, whereby a
key component is to implement climate-friendly land-use policies
and invest in public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control estimates that if all
physically inactive Americans became active, we would save $77
billion in annual medical costs
WHEREAS, the United States is challenged by an obesity epidemic
in which 65 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or
obese, and 13 percent of children and adolescents are
overweight, due in large part to a lack of regular activity; and
WHEREAS, the percentage of U.S. children who walk or bike to
school has dropped by 70 percent since 1969 such that only 15
percent of students were walking or biking to school in 2001
while the rate of childhood obesity has tripled in recent years,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of
Mayors believes that achieving increased levels of bicycling is
in the national interest; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages the development and implementation of a coordinated
national bicycling strategy aimed to increase safe bicycle use
as a mode of transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages the development of federal transportation,
environmental and public health policies that recognize
increased and safe bicycle usage for transportation is in the
national interest and that we further urge Congress in the next
federal transportation reauthorization to establish policies and
funding mechanisms that will aim to:
• Reduce the number of motor vehicle miles traveled (VMT); and
• Improve safety conditions for bicyclists; and
• Collect transportation and safety data needed to monitor
progress; and
• Provide incentives for state and local governments to adopt
and implement Complete Street policies designed to accommodate
all users; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that even absent federal incentives,
Governors and state-level leadership should embrace Complete
Streets policies that acknowledge the contributions of bicycles
as a means to reduce vehicle miles by integrating bicycle use
into standard street design; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
calls on all Mayors that sign onto the Climate Protection
Agreement to develop and implement action plans to incorporate
bicycling programs and policies as a key component in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages every mayor to strive to make their city a Bicycle
Friendly Community.
Recent Comments